Quote Originally Posted by Marine Assist View Post
Sorry folks, but the KDFWR is THE law enforcement body on the KY waterways. In the case of Lake Cumberland, the KDFWR has the jusrisdiction to carry out Federal law enforcement. This is handed to them by the Coast Guard every year and the KDFWR does recieve ~1.4 mil in Federal grant money to act in the Coast Guard's absence here on the lake for law enforcement, education and safety.

The KDFWR officers have every right, the same as the Coast Guard does, to board A N Y vessel on the water at A N Y time for the purpose of inspection. They can write State and Federal citations, depending on the severity of the issues found. It makes no difference whatsoever if the boat is registered in a state or if it is Federally documented. The only real reason to even document a boat is because the ownership record and any ship's mortgage is considered more secure than a state title or UCC filing. The documented vessel is still subject to KY property tax every year, but does not have to bear a KY state registration number or decal according to KY law.

The Coast Guard visits Lake Cumberland at least one week per year, sometimes more, per their guidelines for their AOR of a Federal waterway. The group from Sector Ohio Valley, Louisville Sector was here 2 weeks ago for one of their yearly visits. They will be here again in July sometime to do inspections on all of my towboats. I have not heard the date yet.

FYI, if you are a licensed Captain, you are "over the limit" at .04 BAC. The average Joe boat operator is over at .08 BAC.
The BAC limit don't matter. You could be sober for the last 5 years and if they want to arrest you and put you in jail they will no matter what your BAC is. You will spend a night in jail, lose a day of work to go to court, and if you hire an attorney, that will cost. Then the judge will see that your BAC is 0.0 and downgrade the charge to disorderly conduct and fine you $116.00 plus court costs. You can fight it further but it will just cost you more. You're guilty until proven innocent. Guilty of something!